Ladder.



l. M. DILLMAN.

LADDER.

(Nahum) (Application md In. a, 1900.

Patented June 5, I900 fnvenzar: l1

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PATENT rrrcri.

IRA M. DILLMAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,106, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed January 3,1900. SerialNo 279. (Nomodeld T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA M. DILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 524 Telegraph avenue, Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders, and more particularly to extensionladders.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a ladder constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the locking-bars in dotted lines and the lower step being cut away to show the fastening for the same. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ladder in its extended position, showing in dotted lines the handle for the locking-bars in its two positions. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the ladder, showing the arrangement of the parts when in the collapsed position. Fig.4 is a detail view of a portion of theladder in front elevation, showing in full lines the lockingbars and the spring-handle in contracted position and in dotted lines the said bars and handle in expanded position. .Fig. 5 is adetail view showing the hinge-irons of the ladder-sections. Fig. 6 is a detail view of aportion of a leg and tread of the ladder and the device for securing the same in position.

The objects which the present invention has in view are to produce a ladder of the character specified which will be securely locked in its various positions by a mechanism which is secured against accidental manipulation, while being easily and readily manipulated, to produce a joining construction which will hold the parts rigidly in position, and to simplify the construction to reduce the cost of production.

With these objects in view the invention consists in constructing the ladder in two sections,which are of approximately-equal length and are hinged together at one end. The sections, as shown in the drawings, may differ in style of construction. The one section is provided with steps 1, which are secured to a screw-thread to receive a nut 6.

through perforations in the steps near the ends thereof. The bolt 4 is extended along the under side of the step and through aperforation in theleg 2, where it is provided with When the nut 6 isset up hard against the side of the leg, the step 1 is drawn tightly into the channel 3 and the leg and step are firmly and rigidly secured. By now riveting the end of the bolt 4 where it extends through the nut 6 the nut is prevented from loosening. The steps 1 1 are thus secured upon the legs 2 2. This style of ladder terminates at the top by a wide step or platform 7. This in the present instance is secured to the legs 2 2 by the hingeirons 8 8, which are secured on the legs by the fastenings 9 and are provided with the bracket extension 10 to receive the overhang of the platform 7. These irons 8 are provided with the angle extensions 11 11 to extend the one over and the other under the platform 7 and to there receive the rivets 12 12. (See Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings.) The platform 7 is cutaway to pass the metal carrying the overlapping extension 11, while the overhanging portion is extended sidewise beyond the legs and forms the shoulders 13. These shoulders serve to assist in bracing the legs 14 14 of the other or extension section of the ladder. The extension-section is here shown as having rungs 15 in lieu of steps.

This construction permits the extension-section to be folded neatly down on the step-section, as shown in Fig. 3, the legs 14 passing to the side of the legs 2. The legs 14 are provided at their hinged ends with the hinge ironsor plates 16, which are secured in position by the fastenings 17, and are provided with the perforations 18 to receive the lock-bolts. The two sections are hinged together by the bolts 19, which are passed through the legs 2 and 14 and through perforations formed to receive them in the hinge-irons 8 and 16. The swing of the two sections about the bolts 19 is lim-V ited by the shoulder 13 in the platform and by the rungs 15, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Also these rungs are placed on the rear edges of the legs 14. instead of between the same.

The operative positions of the sections are shown atFigs. l and 2, in which positions they are locked and held by the lock-bolts 2O entering the perforations 18 in the plates 16. Each perforation 18 is independently placed with reference to the positions which it is desired the sections should assume to each other. Those registering with the lock-bolts when the sections are extended in line do so, however, when the side of the legs 14 rest against the shoulders 13 and secure to the stability of the extended ladder the added bracing of the plat-form 7. The sections may be locked in the folded position by providing the plates 16 with the recess 21, into which thelock-bolts fall when the extension-section is folded against the other. The lock-bolts 20 are mounted in line and extended through perforations in the hinge-irons S S and perforations in the sides of the box 22, wherein the end of each bolt is secured to the end of the spring 23. The box 22 is secured to the under side of the platform by rivets 24, wings being formed on the box to receive the rivets. In the face of the box is formed a channel, the sides 25 of which are shaped at the lower end to form cams over which the sides of the spring 23 ride when raised from the position shown by the dotted line in Fig. 4 of the drawings to the position shown in the full lines in the same figure. In thus riding over the camsha-ped sides the ends of the spring and the bolts are drawn toward each other, and the outer ends of the bolts are withdrawn from engagement with the perforations 1S and the recess 21, and the two sections may be, revolved about the bolts 19. When the sections are in the desired position, they are locked by depressing the spring 23 to permit the spring to ride down the cam-shaped sides 25 and spread to extend the bolts 20into the perforation or recess in line. lVhcn depressed, only a decided pull on the spring 223 will raise it to withdraw the bolts 20 and permit the ladder to collapse.

\Vhile I have herein described the invention as applied to a construction embodying features of the step-ladder and having the platform 7 and the shoulder 13 thereon, it is obvious that I may equally well apply the hinge and lock herein described to any known type of ladder without avoiding the spirit of this invention.

The metal parts herein described are preferably formed from sheet metal cut and formed by dies and from standard shapes of bolts and rivets, with the exception of the bolt 4, the end of which is drawn flat and an eyelet formed therein. In constructing a ladder with the metal parts provided little remains but to assemble them, thus minimizing the manual labor, which is in the ordinary constructions the largest element.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a ladder of the character specified, the

combination of two laddersections, metal plates on each arranged to bear against each other where the two sections are joined, suitable pivots connecting the said plates, two loclobolts suitably mounted on the one section to extend through the plates of that section to engage the plates of the other section, a spring engaging the inner ends of the said bolts to force them outward, a cam-like device adapted to compress the said spring when forced against the same, there being suitable means on the outer of the said plates to engage and hold the end of the said bolts when extended; substantially as described.

2. In aladder of the character specified, the combination of two ladder-sections, metal plates on each arranged to bear against each other where the two sections are joined, suitable pivots connecting the said plates, two lock-bolts suitably mounted on the one section to extend through the plates of that section to engage the plates of the other section by entering recesses located in the said plates attached to the swinging section, there being recesses equidistant from the pivotal cent-er in opposite directions therefrom, a spring engaging the inner ends of the said bolts to force them outward, and a cam-like device adapted to compress the said spring when forced against the same; substantially as described.

3. In a ladder of the character specified, the combination of two ladder sections, metal plates on each arranged to bear against each other where the two sections are joined, suitable pivots connecting the said plates, two loclvbolts suitably mounted on the one section to extend through the plates of that section to engage the plates of the other section, a spring engaging the inner ends of the said bolts to force them outward, a member having a channel in the face thereof, the edges of which are oanrshaped to compress the said spring when raised between said edges, there being suitable means on the outer of said plates to engage and hold the end of the said bolts when extended; substantially as de scribed.

4. In a ladder of the character specified, the combination of two legs having transverse slots or channels formed in theirinner faces, suitable steps, the ends of which are adapted to fit snugly in the said slots or channels, a bolt for each end of said step provided with an eyelet in the inner end and a threaded portion on the outer end, a screw-nut for each bolt to work against the outside of the said legs, and suitable fastening devices for securing each of the said steps to the eyelets; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of December, 1899.

IRA M. DILLMAN.

\Vitn esses:

E. F. MURDooK, G. W. MARsH. 

